Manifolding device



Oct. 5, 1943; HEDlGER 2,330,886

MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed May 13, 1942 4 Sheet-Sheet 1 Oct. 5, 1943.

Fly. 5

A. HE DIGER MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed May 15. 1942 4 Sheets-Shed 3 fru/erziar Oct. 5, 1943. A. HEDIGER MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed Mayv 15, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ed to be used for Writing entriesloyfhand on Patented Oct. 5, 1943 I UMTED STATES}? PAT N OFF MANIFOEDING heme jtnilnfii ee ..s 1 A iieetion m ys, 1942, Seri N 42 ,4;-o 'e L 2 23-4 shows a considerably fhe invention relates to a new and improved I enlarged'section manifolding device and more particularly-to on thelineX-X ofFig.' 1. a manifolding devices adaptedftobeused inbooki 2 Fig. 1 1 shows to a smaller scale afs t n 93. 119. I keepingmaking use of loose sheets 'for thefledger' llI1 'IXIfXI Of Fig. withjhe. writing plate; and the accounts. Theinvention relates still s raised I I -i I v t mo're particularly to devices ofsaid type adaptgf e" device has a base plate -I the longitudinal edge of-which areprovided withbars 3 Thl3 113, #:are' provided withgrooves inwhich a customers account sheet, suchjeritri'es being transferred by means of carbon sheet 'or qther II I slide? is :mounted. f Over-the bars- 31% lie' two transferring sheets on to a journal or le plates 5, 6 which are both pivotally I arranged 1 on sheet. Devic'es'of thisty pe are lrnown in jw lCl l' forms with identical divisions or columns siuch as I ebit datadebit text, debitsum columnsa'rejis for the account sheets andthejournal sheets such amanner that entries and figur es entered in the columns of theaccountsheetwill b tran ferred on to the said journal sheet f columns. I I, II The main object of the invention is to improve the bar t. The plateS; which is awrit-ing plate is provided witha slot in which is locateda, rail 8; iThe latter is secured atthe top and bot tom to the bars 3;4. I A rai1 9 is'rigidlysecured' to the Writing p1ate 5 and a" clamping rail lil j (Figs l, 3, 4) is hinged tothe said plate The,

railcanifbe rockedbytmeans of hand grips 'l I} ongthe clampingvrail I0 is pivotally mounted a clamping vrail llprovided with hand grip s l'3Yh j I iii- 111 and IVIV, .respectively,, of "B t "i545 'r e e plate fildoet a ve e; slide the defices of the type afore aid by the provi ionf zo The suppor in pl te ,6 c rries a clampjld 'for of means to prepare automaticallya groupr egac o nts R, and a holder I5 for pens d D ister sheet or balancing sheet on which theglebi oils To the bar 4 is connected a holder ;|6 f or and credits are tabulated in groupa'iacilitatin stamps. The bard also carries-two carriers I]; the making out of the balance sheet. lwhile wr 018 (Figs- 1, 2) in which a supply roll '19 ofcopying the'entries on the customeris'a eonnt rsbe elpa i roteteblrmolmted- In the i I8 ",(;Fig'.{ ,1 and ma further carrier 2Iyis ro,-' tatably mounted a' second supply roll 2 'ofcopy ing paper. To the writing plate 5 'areialsohinged' t wo holding rails 22,13 (Fig 2);, of which'the forrner lies onthe upper and the latter on the lower side of the plate 5.

At the lower ,end of the base plate I is provided foot bar 24 (Fig. 2 and at the upneren is a rockable foot bar 25. The latter is wider j .fthan' tl'ie bar. 24; the plates receive an inclina jl. tionwhichfacilitates writing. A turn -buttonfor jempjgs releasably holds the foot barf25 in the I positionshownin Fig.2. I I proper columns on the group reg st S t f w T T1 hth d S d Of t e i PIQ QE In'the accompanying'drawings isshown an,e3 (4 hpp bar F 3) fihifl-IWQE ample of construction of the subject ofnthe in: I'Q S S 1 each provided with a kno lif r. Vention f I mounted parallel to one anotherandaxiallyniov- Fig. 1 shows a perspective View oflthe device j' able. Each of the rods 32'1's provided withfla Figs, 2 to 4. are sections onthef nfiswl 1 11 291 a 5) .into w i se 1 .5

provided with a column in which the, rou nu her is inserted. A hand operated loc'at to place the said group register shee't on entry in such a position that thejfigures written on the account sheet appear in the proper colum of the group register sheet'. All the'' iter ns figures written onthe account jsheetand j ou a sheet appear sorted out andtabulajt'ed in thej Over the plate 35 is arranged a cover pag proyided with windows 37. Each platefiibea forming 'a part of they device. a. e the'same number twice, the numbers of each pa Fig. 6 shows a part of the slide" *froin un .7 beingsiqle byside butdifferentfrom one another Heath 5O iorfije'xan pleby their colour; One or thef oth larger scale.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinalse'ction through as Figs. '7 and 8 are sections onj the linel vlivl'li of th numbers (in'the present example11- 6) if of Fig. 5 with the, separate parts in diiiferentpoof the 'lates 35 appears in-the window when ne of rods 32 is moved- Each rod- QZA iSZ QbDI- f nec'ted-at-its'free:end toa ratchetbar 49 C gs. 5 "6-) subjected to the action of a spring 42:Alithe-E f sitions. I Fig. 9"shows a partof the device i h perspective and partly brolien away.

ratchet bars 40 are slidably mounted in a casing 4|. Each ratchet bar 40 is provided with an inclined bearing surface 43 and two stops 44, 45

is associated a rockabl locking member 53 subjected to the action of springs 48, 49. The locking members 59 are provided with slots 5!, with j which projections 52 (Fig. 3) can engage. The

latter are secured at regula interval underthe slide 2 to the base plate I. Springs 49 on the locking members 50 irictionally engage the slanting surfaces43 of the ratchet bars 40 while the locking'pawl 46,1Fig. 5, is adapted for holdin -1 engagement against the shoulders 44, 45 of the ratchet bars 40 to' hold said bars against the action of the spring 42. Upon forward movement to the left, Fig. 5, of any rod 32 and ratchet bar 40, the locking pawl 46 will swing into holding engagement against the shoulder 45 of the ad-;

vanced bar 40, while its relation to the other bars 40 remainsas shownin Fig.'5l

on the underside ofthe slide 2, two shafts sl,

62 are mounted in bearings (Figs. 5, 6) of which each carries three clamping members 63. Springs 65 tend to press the ends 63 of the clamping members 63 against the "slide'2r One clamping member 63 of each shaft 6|, 62 i's'provided with:

an extensionfBE (Eig. 3) on Which-is seated a pin '61 projecting through the slide 2..

The clamp rail l0 firmly holds the journal sheet J, the clamp rail I 2 the account sheet K, the clamp members 63 the group register sheet G and the clamp [4 for example the account R to be entered.

The device enables one of group columns 1 to 6' of a group register sheetG to be adjusted selectively relatively to the numeral column Z '(i. e. the account number, debit and credit columns calculated together) of the journal sheet J andof the account sheets K, so that by'single writingdown there is obtained an entry not only on the account sheet K and the journal sheet .J, but simultaneously also the necessary entries in one of the group columns 1 to .6 of the group register sheet G. For'this purpose the sheet G lies on the slide 2, on which-it is held firmly by the clamping members 63 subjected to the action of the springs 65. By pressure on a pin 6'! the ends 63' of the clamping members 63 are raised and the group register sheet G can be removed or exchanged. As will be seen from Figs.- 3, 9 and 10, the sheet G lies not only on the slide 2 but is passed over the rail '8 which lies i'n the :slot 1 of the writing plate 5. The width of the rail 8 corresponds exactly with that of the numeral column Z and the numeral column both of the journal sheet J and of the account sheet K lies exactly on the rail 8. At each timeof writing downthe numberv is thus entered on the account sheet, on the journal sheet and on the group registerysheet G, and the. fi urein the debit, and credit.

a Before inserting the group register sheet G, the plates 5, '6 are swung upwardly ('Fig. 11). The

group register sheet G is placed over the freely xposed slide 2 and over the rail 8 and clamped firmly as above described; The plates 5, 6 are then again lowered. The copyingpaper 20' of which the width corresponds with that of the rail 8, is withdrawn from the roll 29 and placed over the group register sheet G, rail 8 and the lower edge of the writing plate 5. 'Ihereupon the copying paper 19' which corresponds in width with the width of the journal sheet, is unwound from the spool 19 and placed over the writing clamping bar I0, so that it is held immovably.

The clamping bars 22, 23rserve for holding the lower and upper edges. of the copying papers I5, 20. To the clamping bar 23 there is preferably secured a protecting strip 28 (Fig. 2) bent in the "form of a U, which surrounds the lower edge of the plate 5., This protecting strip 28 may be replaced or even combinedwith a device which enables'the fully used copying paper, which can no longer be used, to be cut off. It is also possible to combine with the protecting stri a device enabling'the copying paper to be drawn along by a half line spacing so as to enable the copy- P per to be used completely. Near the upper edge of the slide lare provided two angle pieces 29 (Figs. 1, 9) which serve as stops for the group register sheet G. The two angle pieces 29 are movable within predetermined limits so as to equalize irregularities in the head width ofthe sheet G, so thatithelatter can always be firmly clamp'ed'in alignment with the journal sheet J.

Hereinafter forthe purposes of explanation it willbe assumed fore xample that an entry is to be made on the goods account sheet, which bears the roup number 4. After having read from the rail 12 on which line of the journal sheet J an 7 thus lie exactly one above another (see Fig. l).

In order that th 'entry to be made on the group register sheet G will also take place in the column appertaining to thegroup 4, the slide 2 must be moved tosuch an extent'that the group 4 of the sheet G'lies on'the rail 8; For this purpose the button 3| associated with the number 4'is pressed. The rod 32 is thus moved axially and there is effected a movement of the numeral plate 35. In

v the opening .31 there appears the second previously covered' number 4 which in the manner already described is provided in a distinctive man- 4 ner for example in redcolour. When moving the rod'32'against the actionof the Spring 42 the rat'chetbar 40 is also moved untilvthe pawl 46 engages with the stop and thus holds the ratchet'bar 40f firmly. During this operation the inclined bearing surface 43 has rocked the spring 49 and therewith the locking member 50 from the position in Fig. 7 into the position shown in Fig. 8'(in chain dotted lines in Fig. 5). In the ,new position of the locking member 50 a'stop 52 projects into itspath. If now the slide 2 is moved, one stop 52'sna'ps, at a predetermined moment, into theslot 5| of the rocked locking member 50, subjected to the action of the spring 48 and holds the slide 2 firmly in the position in which the group 4 of the group register sheet G lies on the rail 8.

When writing on the account sheet of group 4 there is efiected iii-the known manner also the same entry on the journal sheet J. At the same numb m of'ithe. roup of the; a count shee is ete orerob i echthe tll t ir iollsroncm ont-o ew s n t sthes eet Wh re l bysa sourc of error s xcludedi omnletelyaWhen account; sheets of her eroups arestoib :(writte. on-the \handep e :3 re ndinswith-th o; q est qmeis rs edianda h lide 2,1wherln1 ed is so held firmly, y es rre po d n e 10c A member .0 and a t p 52,- thatthesdesiredlsroiip between tabulated-sheets:positioned-onsaid writ whilst the; pawl 1 46.; is common to all the; slides V c1ampingisheetsiofzitabulated paper. 4 said j p y ingzplate,andvseparateddrom the bodybtthe plate, hw -longitudinal slots-gsmeans for. independently ing lpla-te withigipredetermined =.-colum:n ethereon in g negistryeia slide plateimovable .transyersjely of 'the writin'g plate iinderneathgthe same, means for 1 clamping. a tabulated .isheeti; of l paperito i said slide plate 'in suoh positionithata portion of said sheet overlies said zrailemeans -for holdingcopying pape ingtgplate and slide, and'imeans for holding said e slide-:5 with lrespect: t0 .:..the plate I in "a \position e whichaa selectedgcolumnof the 'slide sheet overlies the ,railrwherebyanientrymadein theetopsheet 40a; Whenza. ratchet bar 1.40 is locked by thepawls'15 ,on the plate willzbe icopiecl into the correspond Mi it is ggeleased in that -,wh,en,the knob, 13 Igof another rod; n and itstratchetbar; .49 :is :moved',-; and-\the; pawl-i 46 ;is lraised; -from the Stop 145;

on the; retnrn ,of the; releasedi'zlratchet bar: 40a:

ineizcolumn :of another plate! sheet; andlthe-setG FQOlH-IIllIaOfithC slidessheetsu e e into; its normal position;;(Figs. 5, 16 sthe locking 1 writing.gplatfii;meansi forsindependently clamping member fill associated therewith alsogrock intot; its earlier position over'the stop-52: ',.A ;will be;- en; irqmmFigs. 2 and 3 the stops 52; are spacediz predetermined distances aparts V g s The-balance can be obtained at any timesfrom the group register sheet. vAs in ,each sheetG ithe group-number, is also locatedin each group col-3 un n adjacent the debit 'and creditamollntdt is extremely 7 simple to .see L whether; each iamcunt standsinithe correct group column; j

The indicating device 35j 3l couldals o be ar-r ranged on one ofthe bar 3, 4 lnsteadof sepr; arate'journal sheets it is also possibletouse a band movable over the writing 1 plate, capable ot;

sheets of ;tabulated...pap.er= to said writing plate a with predetermined columns thereon in registry} a rail between the;*=longitudinal-:edgesofisaid wr-it ingplate; andseparated. fromi-the body of the e plate byrlongitudinalrslots, a slide platemovable transversely of; the writing -.plate 1 and of the railunderneath thesamaemeansifor clamping-a tab-ll latedii heet of," paper; inszpredetermined position- .to ,said sl lde;andq threading saidipaper threughf .thesl tsjbetween lthe nail andithe matey-means for ,;holdin g copying paper; between ztabulatedsheets pos itioned on-isaid. plate 1' and slide, means if for,locking,said halidenwithi'respect to the plate in a position in yvhlch a selectedtcoliimn"ofQtl le being fixed by the clamping barll) and wound on 3 slide; sheet overli'esathe;rail whilesthe remainderv asupply spool; I v 0f said-s d 55. 661 Sina plane.- beneath said railvicewhich adds the written, amounts,

In, the example shown, there has been shown a group register sheet with sixgroup or number;-

colilmns Z. The slide} may, however, be madel,

wider so that, for example, there. is ro om ;for twelve groups; The guide, groovesin the bars 3 t for the slide are extended so that the slide 2 can be drawn out not only towards the right, (Fig; 1) but also towards the left. [At' the} left hand edge of the slide are provided rod and hum-s bers asabove described for the right hand edge. Further there are prov-lded entirely similarly com s structed'and similarly-operating locking elements V 40-52. Y

In'particular cases it may be desirable to write .i the business transactions or' the numericaliterns, written underneath one another on the journal sheet J, in a horizontal line on the group register sheet G; Inorder to obtain this result the parts, whichfirmly hold the journal sheets and the ac count'sheet, maybe made vertically movable rela- 6 arate 'iter ns should each bewritten as the debit 3 nmn oftheslide sh t and credit side of a form. The arrangement couldv be such that the slide 2 can alwaysjbe moved Plate o dedw a slotfland hingedalongsby the amount of the width of a debit column or a credit ,columngwhilst an indicatingv device 1 {S d c u n; il lsl dcisheet. 5: 1

. lated'paper :to said writing plate with predeter- Wherebyan entry mad and-plat wherebyiyanzsentryi made. 'inwthe top 1 1 hQ zp a q-swfll the; copied .into the .eor s spending column; of; anothen-plate sheet and the- 3. A manifold device-aofnthe scharactende mi scribed, comprisingg a bed; frame,.- awriting plate 1 provided withaa slot hingedalong ,oneiiedge toithe bed frame, ayrail fixedlyesecuredito the'bedframe 111 ,a position to;occupy .the;slot =in, the writing v plate when -thelatter is inoperative. position a slide plate movable transverselydiof. the writing plate underneath: the same. andmnderneath: said:

rail, v means,- for clamping; a tabulated; sheet of Y 50 paper.in -predeterminedrpositiongtosaid slide with a portion ,of said paper-on :theslide overlying said raiL when the latter has .1been. exposed through upward,swingigg mQyfimfilita of the writing plate,

means f oriindependently clamping sheets oftabne 1 l minde columns of said plate, sheets virrregistryi 1 above the rail, means for holding copying paper- 1 between the tabulated sheets positionedon said: plate and slide, and means fprlockingsaid slide Ml with respectto theplatein-aposition in-whicha l selectedcolum'n of the slide sheet overliesvthe rail, e k in the,top-sheet onithe plate will. be copied, in j the corresponding -col-- umnsof another plate'sheet,,and,the selected col-w '4 In; a nfl'a nif olding deviceof thescharacter Scrlbed, th eecombinetion of a ,bed. frame, a writ one, longitudinal edgeiftoysaid;frame;za rail seis provided which indicatesthe column; debit ori'fzo ,curedtosaid irameeat;a,looation between-the credit, in which the entry is made.

WhatIcIaim is; v s s 1. Ina manifolding device of ,the "character describedthe combination of a writing plateaa edgcso'f said-slot when -the writingiplate is .0p-.-. j

iVePQsition-onthe frame, .the topsiface'of said-z:

when the latt ell is operative 'positiomimeansm. i

raillbetween the longitudinal ie ig s li, ai' i, vrit t ,independeptly ;,e1amn nsi fi gfifiszofitabulated l plate underneath the same and underneath-said railQmeans for clamping a tabulated, sheet of I paper in, predetermined position-son saidslide plate when the writing plate'is swung away from the bed frame to maintain said sheet of paper'on x the sliding plate above the rail on the bed frame and beneath the writing plate when the latteriis returned to operative position, means for holding copying paper between vtabulated'sheets positioned' on said plate andslide,'and mean-s for v I5} rectilinear path on the frame, meansfor clamping another'tabulated' sheet'on said slide plate,

locking said ,slide with respect to the plate and rail in a'positi'on in which a selectedcolumn-of the slide sheet overlies the rail, whereby an entry made in the top sheet on the platecin a column overlying the-rail will be copied into the -corresponding column of another'sheet clamped .to' the plate and into the selected column of the s ide sheet.

5. In a manifoldingdevice of the character described, the combination of a bed frame, a writing plate having a slot pivotally s'ecured to said bed frame along one edgethereof, a'rail fixedly secured to the bed. frame at a position in" which said rail is located in'the slot of the writing plate I 1 when the latter isin operative position, the top V v v face of the rail and the top face of the writing mn 0f the sllde plate'sheet a eop rat ve with plate beingcoplanar when the writing plate isin operative position on the frame, clamping means secured to the Writing plate and movable with the same with'respect to the bed frame for independently clamping sheets of tabulated paperto said writing plate with predetermined columns of said sheets inregistry above said rail upon movement,

of said writing plate and sheets to operative position with respect to the frame, a. lide plate movable in the frame in adirection parallel to the pivotal axis of the writing plate, means for clamping. a tabulated sheet to said slide with a portion of said sheet overlying said rail, and theremain- 1 der of said sheet beneath saidwritingplate when the latter is moved to operative position, stops fixed to the frameand holding means secured to the slide plate, saidlholding means being adapted for cooperation with the stops to retain the sliding plate in a position in which a 'column'selected on the sliding plate is in registry with the rail, and

means for holding copying paper bet'ween tabulated 'sheetspositioned on' said plate and slide, 1 whereby an entry made the top sheet'on the I writing plate will be-copied into-the corresponding column of another sheet on said'writing plate and into the selected column of the sheet on the slide. a

6, In a manifolding device of the character described, the combination of a bed frame, a writing.

plate having a sectionalized bodyrnovably secured to the bed frame, a rail fixedly secured to the bed frame betweensections ofsaidjwriting plate and separated from the same by'slots when the writing plate is in operative position'on the" bed frame, means for independently clampingi sheets of tabulated paper to the writing'plate with predetermined. columns thereon" in registry above saidrail, a slide plate movablewith-respect to the writing plate, means for clamping a'tabulated sheet of paper to said slide plate with aportion of said sheet overlying'saidrail; means for locking said: slide with respect to the writin plate v in a position in which a selected column of"- the 5 slide sheet overlies the rail, means for-holding a 1 p I I 75 lected column on'the tabulated sheet occupies a sheet of ordinary paper of'the width of the railin f registry with the rail abov the tabulated sheet secured to the slide, means for holding othercopying paper on the writing plate in position toeflect the writing-plate will be copied into the corresponding column of another sheet secured to the writing'plate, and into the selected column of the tabulated sheet on the slide. i g

i In a manifoldingdevice of the character describedQthe combination of a bed frame, means for holding tabulated sheets in selected relation to each other and in predetermined position with respect to the frame," a slide plate guided in a tion with'respect to selected columns on the sheets clamped in fixed relation to the frame,

' and means for indicating on the slide plate the r, column'sof the tabulated sheet on the slide plate,

said indicating means-being #operatively connected with said locking means-on the slide plate for holding the slideplate with respect to the frame jina position in which said selected colrespect to the columns on the frame sheets.

8. In a manifolding deviceof the character described, the combination of a bed frame, a slide plate guided in a'rectilinear path on said bed frame, means for clampinga tabulated sheet in I predetermined position on the slide plate, and

means for selectively-lockingsaid slide plate to present selected columns of the sheet clamped thereon predetermined position with respect 40 to said frame, the frame having holding means cooperated with the lookingmeans on the slide plateyand the slide plate having manipulating means for selectively moving any of the locking means thereon to operative relation with respect to the holding means on the frame.

9. In a'manifolding device of the character de- 1 scribed, thecombination of a bed frame, 'a, slide plateguided thereon in a rectilinear path, clamping means for securing a tabulated sheet having a plurality of columns in predetermined position on said slide plate, locking means on said slide plate in afnumber corresponding to the number of columns on the tabulating sheet, holding means on the frame, each of said holding means being adapted for cooperation with a different one of said locking means of the slide plate, indicating means on the slide plate, and means for simultaneously operating said slide plate with respect to said frame, a selected column on the tabulated sheet, as indicated by v thef indicating means in a predetermined position with, respect to the bed'frameupon displace- '5 'mentof the slide Withrespect to' the bed frame.

70 plurality of juxtaposed columns in predetermined position on said slide plate, cooperating elements on said slide plate and on said'be'd frame for retaining the slide plate with respect to said bed frame in a positionin whichj'a seentries on one of thesheets secured to the writing 5 plate, whereby an entry madein' the top sheet on indicating means and locking means on theslide'plate to maintain upon movement of the predetermined position with respect'to the bed frame, indicating means on the slide, and means for selectively operating said locking means on the slide and said indicating means on the slide to retain the slide in a position in which the column of the tabulated sheet indicated by the indicating means occupies a predetermined position with respect to the bed frame. a

11. In a manifolding device of the character described, the combination of a bed frame, a slide guided for rectilinear movement in said bed frame, means for clamping a sheet having a plu rality of tabulating columns juxtaposed thereon in predetermined position on said slide, a plurality of ratchet bars supported by said slide and movable relatively thereto, locking elementscarried by said slide and actuatable by said ratchet bars, holding elements on the bed frame adapted for cooperation-with the locking elements carried by said slide, and means on the slide for selectively displacing said ratchet bars with respect to said slide to bring the locking elements on the ratchet bar operated by the manipulating means to'operative position withrespect to the holding element on the frame, whereby the tabulated sheet clamped to the slide presents a column selected by the operation of said manipulateding means in a predetermined position with respect to the frame. f

12. In a manifolding device of the character described, the combination of a bed frame, a slide guided in a rectilinear path on said'frame, means for clamping a tabulated sheet having a plurality of columns juxtaposed thereon in predetermined position to said slide, locking elements on said slide, holding elements on the bed frame, means position upon release of the manipulating element secured [to the slide,

13. In a, manifolding-deviceof the character describedfthe combination of a bed frame, a

slide guided in a rectilinear path on said bed frame, means for clamping a tabulated sheet having. a plurality of columns in juxtaposition thereon in predetermined position on said slide, indicating means for the columns on said tabulated sheet mounted on said slide in such position as to be normally inaccessible to observation, looking elements on said slide corresponding in number to the number ofcolumns on said tabulated sheet, holding elements corresponding in number to the number of columns on the tabulated sheet and secured to the bed frame, and means selectively operable on the slide for moving the indicating means corresponding to said manipulating means to a position accessible for observation and for moving the locking means on the slide corresponding to the selected column on the tabulated sheet into position for cooperation with the holding elements on the frame, whereby upon movement ofthe slide relatively to the frame, a selected column of ,the tabulated sheet on the slide is retained in predetermined position with respect to the frame,

14. In a manifoldin'g device of the character described, the combination of a bed frame, a slide guided for movement in a rectilinear'path thereon, means for clamping a, tabulated sheet having a plurality of juxtaposed columns in predetermined position on said slide, a ratchet element movably supported by said slide, a locking element actuated by said ratchet element when the latter is moved relatively .to the slide, holding elements on the bed frame adapted for co-,

operation withQthe actuated locking elements of the slide to retain the slide against further movement, the number of the ratchets, locking elements and holding elements respectively corresponding in number to the number of the columns on the tabulated sheet, a plurality of selectively operable manipulating means for the ratchets,

means for holding the ratchets in predetermined 

